Tweed

What is positive play?

But the club want/need money sooner to improve the cash flow over the summer months when there is little other income as there are no games so they need to do something to incentivise people to buy early. Being blunt the club don't (and shouldn't) give a fuck what people's other commitments are. And to be fair we don't know how we going to try and flog them this year as apart from a couple of posts on here saying its coming they haven't started the selling campaign yet.

All the pressure is on them, some teams it galvanises (falkirk) some it ruins (us). Depends how they react I suspect - can see it going either way but I think it might peter out into a nervy, tame 0-0.

I think the idea of reducing season tickets' prices is very nice in practice and I think our club have not done bad here this year. But when comparing ourselves to Wigan we need to remember some things: We have the pitch to fix We have the ground to maintain We will sell circa 3,000 Wigan meanwhile get rent from the RL team get much more television money will sell 15,000 of them have a much more viable product in Arsenal, United, Liverpool, plus probably two derbies whereas we have the OF and the Accies These things make it much more viable for them, gives them a more willing target audience and gives them much more scope to do this. You might argue that the pitch and the ground are from our bad management, tend to agree, but from the situation we are in means we need a good return and early and I think the package we are being offered is fair to the fans and will serve the club well also.

Cor it must be about six games since we had Dougie McDonald.

Everyone has their worth Melvin but we shouldn't be actively looking to sell. I always felt he got a real hard time during his barren spell with us as he was still trying his utmost and the pressure he had been put under was unfair. I actually can't think of a harder working striker in the SPL, plenty of them are better than him and at times he is a frustration because of his heavy first touch but for our level we'll struggle to find better. We need a midfielder with a similar drive to compliment Hughes and I think we would have a real engine to our team. Every team needs a Clarkson or two but filling it with eleven of them won't get you far. St Mirren a fortnight ago I thought DC had his worst game for quite a time, kept giving the ball away, took a kicking, knocked the ball out - but he kept coming back for more. Someone like Brian Kerr would only do that once in a game for fear of looking like a fool - reason, he stays away from the ball,

I think niall was talking post form dip and its 2 in a row. COuld be wrong though.

Or the bench

There have been a number of games this season which we have dominated and not had that many chances - I think creation of the good chance is more of an issue than taking them.

We did score twice from corners the day we beat you at Fir Park in September but I don't remember any others which is damning. THe commentator said during your game with Hibs that St Mirren were the only team in Britain not to have scored from a corner this season. I would suspect the goal you scored later in that game would be deemed as in the next phase of play and I know nothing about the goal you scored yesterday but that is brutal. So aye next week we should play three corners a penalty to make it interesting

Got to say I was mildly interested since I bet us but on the whole was not that bothered. Not going to have much of a go as 1) I wasn't there and 2) looking at the stats we seem to have had most of the game and 3) our defence was a bit makeshift. But a bit disappointed we didn't take the chance to give one of the young centre halfs a shot - someone like Page could have played and we shunt McLean into right back - maybe still have lost but would have given him an education.

My thoughts are everyone is guessing - we don't have a clue.

We were third in January and they only release the standings twice a year. Although as I seem to remember reading the fair play runs from 1st May one year to 30th April next year so anything we picked up at the end of last season will count whereas this season could aready have ended on that front? Could be wrong though. Assume we're not and if we get in that way its a wee brucie bonus.

Not going to play pool because no idea when I'll get away from my work and 7pm is a bit early for me to commit to but will come along for some beer and banter - sounds like a good night.

I think Boyle was being flippant with his mention of English division 2 or whatever it was he said. Because the source of this story is in England this time the story has a different momentum behind it as the belief from our numbskull media and cretinised (that a word?) OF fans is that it is more likely to happen. It won't. I can't see the top four in England wanting it and apart from a bit more telly money I don't see PL2 being much more than a restricted entry Championship - why would West Brom, Hull, Stoke or Birmingham want it? More chance of being in the 2nd tier and less chances of moving up to play the likes of Man Utd, Liverpool and co. I think the quality will dip. I'm sure some of the better players in the SPL put up with it because they get some exposure for progression when we play the OF. Someone like Andy DOrman can get noticed then - I don't see people noticing him because St Mirren v Morton is the big telly game. Therefore I think a lot of our (SPL) better players will end up plying their trade at the likes of Gillingham. The TV companies will disappear or reduce their input. Sure Setanta would be quick to renegotiate without the OF as the product changes and its clear from last week's fiasco that the contract with them is as solid as a runny pooh. Although our attendances v the OF have dropped they are still by far the biggest we get and I doubt a Championship chasing Hearts would bring as many. Only plus side for Scotland is their paranoid, violent and bigoted fans will disappear and the league may be more competitive. Taking out the fact they're bastards and we don't like them its better for Motherwell if they stay. Wish it was different.

I think the fact that a middling Championship team can get Roy Keane shows how far down the pecking order McGhee is when it comes to the Championship/Premiership jobs. Celtic or Aberdeen may have an interest but I think both will stick over the summer and he will be left with no options. Which on balance suits me fine!

We very easily could lose to the first 11 however putting the responsibility onto a team of novices is not fair. Yes we played kids in the admin year it wasn't ideal. You argue it made some of these players - perhaps - where are they all now? Certainly didn't make all of them. You can find players to argue both sides but on balance I'd rather have three of them tops in and if they lose then the experienced pros will have to take most of the responsibility and its a win win for the younger players.

Wholly agree with that - if we bring in 6, 7, 8 youngsters we'll get papped by diddy teams between now and the end of the season and even with the caveat of performances not results that could hammer their confidence. They need to be able to play in the first team with the first team. I'd be inclined to give all those mentioned a shot but only a couple at a time.

Its the highest non qualifying team through cup and league in the nations that are top of the league so therefore if Scotland the nation get a spot then it would be us at present. Ipswich got in the year they got relegated from the Premiership and ended up playing Inter Milan (and winning the 1st leg!) when they were at the fag end of the Championship.

Reynolds Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh. It looked bad first time - I was assured by someone who watched it on the telly in Germany that it would look worse on the telly. It does. God almighty son your right foot can't be that bad!

I would point out that Saturday was the first game we have lost at home since Dec 15th. The pitch didn't turn rubbish until mid January. The pitch didn't help anyone but I doubt it had any real impact on where we came in the league. And we can't play silky football on a decent pitch either - sadly the players this season over the 33 games have been not quite good enough.

The bold we should have done last year - looking at whats happened this season I don't think the cashing in would be that great.

Because one of them will be on Setanta.

Correct. Falkirk would need to win every game and us lose every game - possible. Inverness would need to win every game apart from their game with Falkirk - possible Accies, Killie and St Mirren would then all need to get seven points - having all beaten us they have three and lost to Falkirk and Inverness they have three out of nine, they all need to get four from each other - that can't happen.

In order we need: a striker who will score us 10 to 15 a season a centre half a goalkeeper a digging midfielder (esp if Klimpl goes) a creative midfielder (esp if Hughes goes) Paterson and Lappin would be nice to haves in my view but there are need to haves that are more pressing and given our budget these two will get shelved if there is any intention to bring them.